06 Jan Supporting Professional Development: Badger Survey, Mitigation and Licensing Training 2022
During Autumn 2022 Principal Ecologist John Baker provided training on badger survey, mitigation techniques and licensing to staff based throughout the company.
The objective of the training has been to help staff record consistent and accurate data on badgers as part of the structured and comprehensive programme of training that BSG Ecology delivers to its new starters. John has been completing badger surveys since 2006, regularly implements mitigation licences and holds a class licence for sett closure and disturbance.
Overview
The training was varied and took in badger natural history ecology, relevant legislation and planning policy and recording of field signs. The latter included latrines, paths, footprints, hairs and setts as well as how to assess levels of sett use and the likely type of sett being recorded. More specialist survey techniques such as bait marking and how to add value through camera trapping were also covered.
The training was delivered remotely but past example sites were discussed and used as case studies to demonstrate how potential effects on badgers had been considered. Examples of mitigation measures were discussed including providing artificial sett design, sett exclusion and sett destruction.
Other Training
The Consultancy Skills training is delivered as part of an initial wider training programme for new starters that covers all aspects of protected species survey, mitigation and licensing, the practicalities of biodiversity gain (including application of the UK Habs and using the Defra Metric) and how we manage data in GIS. This helps us ensure that we approach survey work, data collection and analysis consistently across the company.
In addition to this in-house training, further training needs and opportunities are identified through the annual review process and regular meetings with line managers and mentors.
Feedback
“John delivered a fantastic session on badger mitigation and licencing. Trying to decipher what is the main sett as opposed to a subsidiary sett is often tricky. John was able to provide us great insight into innovative methods of badger survey drawing from his extensive experience in the field.” Alex Permain, Ecologist
If you would like further information on our badger survey, mitigation and licensing capability please contact one of our offices.